Mould not filling out

[bigjake]

Hi all, All of sudden i started getting bullets not filling in, the sharp edges of the grease groove are rounded.
I figured out that before, I was using a harder lead and the bullets were very nice. The new lead is softer, and i cant get a good bullet no matter what.

Any help will be appreciated, thanks

[NSP64]

Bigjake, you probably need to add a little tin to the new lead to get fill out. What caliber are you casting, mold are you using, temp?

[bigjake]

44cal. 200 gr. flat top round nose with two grease groves
lee 2 slot mould
temp - ?

where does one get tin? and how much for 10 lbs of soft lead

[Calamity Jake]

Rotometals has your tin or you can get it from a hardware store/plumbing supply. also watch the swap/sell here.
No more than 2% by weight added to your lead is enough.

[44man]

Tin would help and softer lead usually needs more heat.

[AZ-Stew]

Cast faster to get the mould up to a higher temperature. You may be able to avoid the cost of the tin.

Regards,

Stew

[docone31]

It is a Lee mold.
Forget the tin, crank up the heat!
Your sprue should freeze in six seconds. Less than that, heat soak the mold, more than that, go have a short break.
First, soak it in mineral spirits for two days, then when you cast, set it in the melt pot. It will float, and you will get perfect castings.
All my Lee molds do that.
Six seconds.

[Doc Highwall]

44man said it all.

[idahoron]

I use about 500 to 600 grains of chilled lead shot into 5 pounds of pure lead and my lee C-501-440-RF fills out great but I need to keep it HOTTTTT! Ron

[btroj]

Jake- try more heat. Keep the mould hot too. When I was casting pure lead for muzzleloaders I kept then heat full up. Hotter is better at times.

Brad

[Bret4207]

Lead melts at a higher temp than tin. More lead= softer alloy= need more mould heat. Either cast faster or turn the temp up a bit.

[Echo]

where does one get tin? and how much for 10 lbs of soft lead

Lead-free solder from Ace, or Grainger if buying pounds of same.

Ten pounds = 160 ounces. Two percent of 160 = 3.2 Oz.

[geargnasher]

Six seconds is indeed the magic number for two-bangers. I cast at about 650* with WW+2%Sn and the only thing that I wait for is the sprue to freeze, and I still cut them soft using a gloved thumb, no mallet. The filling, cutting, dropping, closing are all done very swiftly to conserve mould block heat. Also, make a big sprue puddle, leave at least an extra teaspoon on top of each well and let the sprues run together in a big blob, that helps keep the sprue plate hot for good base fillout.

Gear

[Charlie Two Tracks]

geargnasher, is that a bottom pour that you are using or ladle?

[Doby45]

I do just like nasher with my bottom pour. Perfecto boolits..